References and Reputation

Our fabulous references and untainted professional reputation are what separates us apart from any other horse seller, just ask anyone who has bought a horse from us, ask around. We constantly hear from people, and particularly from professionals who know us by reputation, that we are the only Spanish horse seller in the World that they would recommend.

You have been Nothing Short of Wonderful

Faraon arrived after midnight!! Looks fantastic. I will send you pictures asap. He has his own huge stall pasture with a shelter next to another horse and he is so awesome!!! We want to keep a very good relationship with you because we will most certainly be using your services in the future!! Also because you are truly an honorable person and deserve it. Thank you so much for your help with everything. Your service is very professional and choice of horses, exceptional. You undersold Faraon, he was more fantastic in the flesh than I ever imagined. You have truly gone above and beyond!

Francesca Nicoletti, Grand Prix Dressage Rider/Trainer, USA

On purchasing her second horse with SHQ:

Again Sophie, thank you for everything. You have been nothing short of wonderful. I would love to talk to anyone about a reference!!

Most fondly,

Francesca (and Family)

Update:

Dear Sophie,

I am so sorry I have not written in a while. Things have been crazy-busy down here in sunny Florida! I wanted to share with you about my weekend. I rode Saturday and Sunday with Victor Alvarez. He was fantastic. Then Faraon and I did a demo for PRE-USA. He was a Super-Start!! I told lots of people about you and all the wonderful things you have done for us. Hope you and your family are well.

Fondly,

Francesca

"I had only hoped to be so lucky"

When I collected Rebecca and her trainer, Manfred Lewis, from the airport they both looked jetlagged and already exhausted from two days of viewing hundreds of unsuitable horses elsewhere. Their first words were: "Sophie, I just want to be clear how this is going to pan out from the start..." I was really wondering myself "how on earth am I going to crack a smile on their faces today, poor worn out souls?". As we soared up into the hills behind Barcelona, got refreshments and headed for the first stud farm we started to get to know each other. The weather was soft, the horses beautiful and their energy started to lift. It wasn't until I introduced them to two stunning dressage horses that there faces really lit up, they said they hadn't seen one horse worth trying before coming to me, now everything I'd shown them was top quality, but still not the one. Then came out Ganador (the Champion), an extraordinarily extravagant mover, rich mahogany bay, clearly in a class of his own and bearing the elite brand of Jose Luis de la Escalera on his hindquarter. Manfred Lewis, Grand Prix trainer from Georgia rode him with great panache, putting him through his paces and getting a real tune out of him, thankfully the owners weren't present during the viewing as the price would have doubled with that extension and the ease at which Manfred got flying changes from his first ride on this 6 year old bronzed beauty. Then Rebecca rode him and they were clearly a perfect match from the beginning, she also rode him out around the paddocks and towards the forest and he was a star. We could all relax and have a celebratory drink together...until the vet exam. It was wonderful to meet both Rebecca and Manfred and we're looking forward to hearing how they get on in the United States - watch this space!

Rebecca kindly wrote a sweet reference for us:

"The search for your dressage partner is not an easy one. Particularly when you have set your heart on obtaining a PRE prospect who will not only perform to the highest levels in the dressage arena but also become a reliable safe mount for you at home. This was the request I had for Sophie upon my entry to Barcelona with my trainer Manfred Lewis. She calmly took us to suitable yards where I was rewarded with seeing several viable prospects. I had only hoped to be so lucky. Of course I found a favorite; but was extremely pleased with the quality and expertise Sophie showed when listening to our requests and requirements, then showing us what we were after. She did not waste our time with side trips around the area. Not that we wouldn't of enjoyed that! Barcelona is truly beautiful, but with my trainers busy show schedule we just didn't have the time; unfortunately. I would not hesitate to recommend Sophie's knowledge, service and expertise should you be interested in pursuing your dream of owning an Spanish horse."

I can't believe this horse!

Pavla, a successful lawyer and incredibly feminine wife and mother in her early thirties, does not stop dreaming there. She has a dream to compete at Grand Prix level on an Iberian horse. After consulting with her about various horses, I selected a dream team for her to view, these were the best of the best in Iberian dressage horses. She arrived at the airport with her devoted husband and 3 month old baby. Now that is dedication, and nothing was a problem. Really, nothing. She loved all 3 of the top 3 horses I had for her, the only problem was choosing.

She made a perfect choice - an international Grand Prix lusitano stallion, 14 years old, a ferrari schoolmaster for a sensitive, talented and ambitious rider. Riding an Iberian horse with this degree of precision and sensitivity is a bit like getting into a Ferrari after driving a Landrover. There are a whole lot of new, subtle and powerful buttons to work out. So, we designed a personal induction programme whereby Pavla could learn the alchemy points from his old master and merge the transfer of relationship harmoniously. What a beautiful opportunity - to spend two weeks in beautiful Spain learning from one of Spain's top grand prix trainer-competitors. This set her up to take him back to the Czech Republic and straight out to competition. This stallion is a professional and has travelled all over Europe, so he took it all in his incredible stride!

In Pavla's words: "I can't believe this horse! He is a dream. He is being such a good character :-))), I am so happy you found him and I choosed him ..... Thank you a lot !!! The time I spent in Spain gave me so much confidence with him and I really feel much more confident riding him. He arrived in great condition and the competition was just fantastic, he behaved as a true professor, and I had such fun to ride him among the czech stars :-)))). I'm so happyyyy :-). Thank you so much for finding him for me and for taking care of all the arrangements afterwards. Love, Pavla."

Highest Quality Horses, Sincere Professionalism

Jane was looking for the perfect combination of competitive flair for advanced dressage/trustworthy laid back hack...the kind of impossible ideal rarely found...but can be found in the Spanish stallion. She had been looking for a few years before she contacted Spanish Horse Specialists, yet found nothing. She asked around and checked up on the reliability and respectability of all Spanish Horse Agents and we were the only ones with a 100% positive reputation. We lived up to this wonderful accolade and found her a beautiful bay Prix St George level stallion with the sweetest character and impeccable training. Jane was over the moon and her trainer, Melissa Smith loved him too. A perfect combination.

"Rico is fully recovered from his travels - he has energy to burn so our schooling is now concentrated on 'whoa' as he is so full of himself.......but as a true gent he doesn't done anything verging on naughty! He thinks hacking in the hills is what a noble horse like him should really be doing - he has the biggest smile on his face to be out in the countryside trotting and cantering about, and whilst he is polite enough to go behind Melissa's horse on the narrow tracks - he is far happier being lead man! Rico is so settled - after he's worked and grazed in the morning, he rolls and rolls in his bed - and spends most of the afternoon lying down blowing Zzzs, He puts up with my young Jack Russell zooming in and out of his legs when I walk him round the fields after each school. He thinks that although the english weather sucks - its made up for by the lush green grass that he never got in sunny Spain!

Thank you so much for all your hard work and professionalism, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to others, in fact I have already done so!

All the best!

Jane Howard"

Pelayo - a dream came true!

For 2 years, I have been wanting and trying to buy a PRE stallion in Spain. But the process at the time was laborious and exhausting: finding and viewing the right horses was diffficult and time-consuming, trying to negotiate in spanish was a disaster, let alone organizing a vet and appropriate transport. So I eventually resigned and gave up - far too much hassle with very little outcome.

Today - April 2007 - in barely 3 weeks, I found my Dream-PRE in Barcelona, bought him and got him vetted and then he arrived in great shape in Munich! This was only possible with the professional, trustworthy and truly amazing support from Sophie of Spanish Horse Specialists! The experience was unique and very special! The number of stunning horses I viewied was overwhelming - each one of them was a crack! Never ever could I have organized such a viewing by myself. Furthermore, the recommended hotel was great, spanish food delicious and the very relaxed and comfortable evening was quite a surprise: Sophie is not only leading her business very professionally and client-oriented but also with a lot of "heart" and warmth. She took interest in my personal wishes and ambitions and truly seeked the real match in the horse. She organized simply everything: starting by intensive pre-discussions to make the right selection of horses, sending of videos, fetching from the airport, viewing the horses, negotiating the best price, ensuring top-class vetting and outstanding transport. I felt in very good hands, supported throughout the whole trip and never had the slightest doubt in Sophie's reliability! It was simply fantastic: I only had to book my flight and do it!

Without Sophie, I would never have found Pelayo and words cannot express my gratitude and happiness! Regardless: THANK YOU, Sophie!!!

A, Fullenbach, GERMANY.

Divino, el caballo de mi sueños – The horse of my dreams

It all started one day when I was looking through Sophie’s webpage, just to see if there was anything interesting for sale … I wasn’t in the mindset of buying a horse, I was just looking. I had already given up my dream of finding my dream horse in Spain … I had decided that it would be too expensive. I thought, maybe in two years time or so, I would buy a horse from Denmark, where I live, and just settle with a Danish bred P.R.E, although I always thought that the Danish horses was of an lesser standard then the ones from Spain – they a often smaller and slimmer too, and I like a more bold looking horse. So there I was, surfing through Sophie’s horses just to pass time … and suddenly there he was. A big 165 cm tall black P.R.E stallion! He has beautiful! He was only five years old, so he had the perfect age. He had the perfect height too, and color, pure black with only two white markings. He has big and bold looking, like a warhorse ready to charge into battle. Right then and there, I knew I was looking at my horse.

Before I knew it I was boarding a plane to Spain. I arrived at Malaga airport Friday morning; by the late afternoon I was riding my black stallion for the first time. I was riding my Divino. He was absolutely perfect! He was a lot bigger I real life, than in the pictures. I hadn’t been on a horse for two years, so I was a little scared – he was a big strong horse and a stallion. But as soon as I sat in the saddle I felt like home. We were n’sync from the very beginning. From there the decision whether to buy him or not, was easy … I had to own him.

On the 19th of July at 12 am, he arrived at the stable back in Denmark. A week later he became a gelding. It is very difficult to have a stallion in Denmark, even one as well behaved as Divino. Therefore I decided to get him gelded – and it was the right decision, ‘cause now he is enjoying himself in the paddock with the other horses, and he loves to play. Riding him is a real dream; he listens, always trying to do what I want him to. He gives me a 100% every day. Sometimes it almost feels like his every breath is to please me. He is a quick learner, and picks up the smallest signals from me. It doesn’t matter if I ride dressage, if I’m riding him in the forest, jumping him or just play with him from the ground; he just gives me his all. I know he is happy; he often calls with his deep stallion-like voice when he sees me. I love him so much, and buying him has been the best decision I’ve made all my life. With him, I can truly live.

Pavla, a successful lawyer and incredibly feminine wife and mother in her early thirties, does not stop dreaming there. She has a dream to compete at Grand Prix level on an Iberian horse. After consulting with her about various horses, I selected a dream team for her to view, these were the best of the best in Iberian dressage horses. She arrived at the airport with her devoted husband and 3 month

Madeleine knew that the elite black stallion, Habanero, was her's the moment she saw the video. Jennifer, her trainer came to check him out for her and was delighted to find that he was all I had described and more. Madeleine rang me to tell me how delighted she is with him and how well he has settled into the USA after the long quarantine. Her words will stay in my mind fo

Faraon arrived after midnight!! Looks fantastic. I will send you pictures asap. He has his own huge stall pasture with a shelter next to another horse and he is so awesome!!! We want to keep a very good relationship with you because we will most certainly be using your services in the future!! Also because you are truly an honorable person and deserve it. Thank you so much for your help with every

For 2 years, I have been wanting and trying to buy a PRE stallion in Spain. But the process at the time was laborious and exhausting: finding and viewing the right horses was diffficult and time-consuming, trying to negotiate in spanish was a disaster, let alone organizing a vet and appropriate transport. So I eventually resigned and gave up - far too much hassle with very little outcome.

I was looking for a taller spanish horse with very good paces and straight movement suitable for competitive dressage. I couldn't be happier with Cupido. He is lovely to ride, very comfortable and willing, I don't want to get off. I have to remember he is young, if he wasn't 3.1/2 yrs I would do a novice test on him tomorrow. The stud did a super job bringing him on correctly, I was very impressed

"Very, Very Happy and then Some!

"Dear Sophie,

On behalf of Angelique (especially) and I, we would like to pass on our thanks and gratitude for finding our ideal horse.

We gave you quite specific requirements - he had to be Black (no white bits), Spanish PRE, Spanish High School or Dressage trained, and a ladies stallion with a great temperament. Rather than waste our time throwing loads of horse detals in our direction, you pointed us directly to Pinterero.

Not only was our first visit a success (with your excellent translation skills), we even figured out that left was right on the directions to the stables, but you came to find us, and the second visit was much easier.

Pinturero arrived yesterday and as promised his weight was correct, his temperment delightful, and sheer prescence felt by all.

He is everything we had hoped for, Angelique had wished for, and I had prayed for. A true Ladies Stallion, with a fantsatic bloodline, physical appearance, trained capability, but most of all, a temperament that even after two days, most of the "very experienced" people at the stables say is not possible from a Stallion, but we know it is, he stands in front of us every day - and at night when Angelique makes me take her to the stables at 12am to say goodnight!!!!! (and to check he is still there).

Truely, we wish to pass on our gratitude, thanks, and lots of hugs (Angelique again) for making one Lady here very, very, very happy, and then some! He's been here for 36 hours and we have had 6 visits already - usually for at least 2 hours!!!

Wishing you the very best, and hope all is well back in the UK.

James, Angelique, Vicky & Pinturero

No Comparison between Sophie and other Sellers

Sophie calls her business "Spanish Horse Specialists" and that’s exactly what she is. I made the mistake of buying a Spanish horse from the wrong person (not Sophie). That dream horse died within 10 days, so my subsequent search to replace him was very emotional and I was determined not to have this happen again. All in all my quest took about:

1 year, 4 trips to Spain and one to Portugal, 3 failed vet checks and a real upheaval of emotions…before I found my horse……thanks to Sophie.

Sophie is extremely professional, but with a “human side” to her as well.

She could have sent me to ^?!#*?!!^ on more than one occasion, but she never did.

I started out wanting a grey seven years old and I was absolutely adamant about it ( and no pink noses please!) and ended up with a black three and a half years old and I couldn’t be happier! Through that whole process Sophie never once "lost it". Actually she is like the rock of Gibraltar - unflappable.

We went through a lot together driving through Andalusia, viewing everything from local private horses to Elite stud farms, getting our hopes up, having them come crashing down and then back up again. Sophie did everything from keeping us entertained in the car by telling us stories from her profession, to lending me a shoulder to cry on.

She is very stoic this girl….actually she has a lot in common with the P.R.E: calm, brave, willing, forgiving, doesn’t panic and a very good character!

I think the key to her success is that she enjoys what she does, its not “just business” to her. She comes highly recommended and there is absolutely no comparison between her and other Spanish horse dealers advertising on the net.

From a very satisfied customer and friend,

Mia Uhrskov

Sold by Video to Majestic Andalusians in the USA

Sophie

I am more than happy with Comprendido.....he is fantastic!

I brought him to Texas for all of April, after freezing semen on him and getting my three mares pregnant to him. Since May aka Prendo has been in Missouri at my trainers being bred to outside mares and conditioned. This next weeked he leaves for Wisconsin to his 1st IALHA horse show. Later this month Prendo leaves for LA to be trained under saddle in readiness for our National Championships in Oct. in TX. I have at least 9 foals due to him 2008, 3 are mine the others paid breedings.

I had Prendo UC Davis Colour checked , he is Homozygous black EE aa. ( there are not more than a handful of the EE aa in the USA ), So things could not be better. As for his temperament, I can not tell you how sweet and easy he is for a stallion. Height he is closer to 16.1hh and still growing.

Comprendido is so quite that a small child could handle him, his manners are just won wonderful. I am Very happy with him.....plus he is EE aa homozygous black producing.

Thanks for helping me find "Prendo"

Donna Brander - Clinical Animal Behaviourist

Dear Sophie,

I've been trying to think how I can express my gratitude to you for finding Voltano. I cannot imagine a more perfect choice for me, especially in value for money. You made an experience that would have been so difficult (if not impossible!), both easy and comfortable. The accommodation was wonderful and eating breakfast on the patio above the infinity pool every morning was certainly a great way to start the day! What an astounding view of the olive groves, hills and lake! Good food, good wine and fabulous company!

I was amazed at your Andalusian horse contacts in Spain. What a treat to see so many beautiful horses! It is obvious why it was necessary for you to specially select both a variety of horse establishments and a variety of horses for me to view before my arrival. I would have been entirely overwhelmed trying to sort through the numbers of horses available.

Understanding of good horses is a skill that many possess but understanding the individual needs of a buyer makes your service particularly special. You also have good working relationships with a diversity of Spanish horse breeders, trainers and horse establishments, all of which adds to the uniqueness of Spanish Horse Quest.

My experience with purchasing a horse with your service could not have been better. From picking me up at the airport, choice of accommodation, the trips around to view the specially selected horses, your handling of the bartering, the paper work and the transport arrangements for Voltano, to all of my special requests in regard to this horse! It was all a very special (and relaxed!) experience for me!

If anyone would like more information about my experience, please feel free to have them contact me!

Sold by Video - HH Sheikh Mohammed of Qatar

Congratulations to the Sheikh who bought 2 stunning PRE stallions.

You guys are so efficient, I can just sit back, relax and let the horses come to me. The horses arrived safely - I am sending you photos of them in our stud farm. Elegido is a dream horse - a Rolls Royce to ride and so nice and quiet. They are both settling in really well and the Sheikh is so happy with them, he would like to buy another Rolls Royce like Elegido.

Thank you for all your hard work getting them all the way to Qatar without any problems.